Helmsman Dictionary

The HELMSMAN SERIES DICTIONARY OF TERMS by BILL BALDWIN

Copyright © Timberwolf Press, Bill Baldwin, All Rights Reserved

http://www.TimberwolfPress.com

--A A'zurn = A'zurn, a mild, lushly vegetated world on the edge of Galactic Sector 944-E, the solitary planet of Brandon. A'zurn lies directly astride one of the principal trade routes leading to the League's most important starports. Domain of flighted beings A'zurnian - A flighted being from the planet A'zurn Adolphus = An early Imperial expert on Benders, his name was known everywhere—he was one of the most famous starship designers in the Known Universe Alastor = An Imperial poet who wrote "Star Pilgrim. Alexi, see Borodov Alpern = Defiant’s ECW officer Altnag'gin = The League's great hullmetal fabricating complex orbiting the star Trax, a busy crossroads of the League's commerce. Ambridge = Hoggitt Ambridge, Margot's Chauffeur on Avalon. Amherst = Puvis Amherst, Lieutenant, I.F. and First Officer ("Number One") aboard I.F.S. Truculent. Amphitrite = The large, converted space liner - part of convoy CXY98 - in which Sublieutenant Wilf Ansor Brim initially arrived at Gimmas-Haefdon. Anak = Kabul Anak, Leaguer Grand Admiral. Anastas, see Borodov. Anshelm's = Poet who wrote “Ode to Autumn” Ansor, see Brim. Antigrav = a contraction of Antigravity Generator. Antiskid = Starship control to automatically damp skidding on liftoff. Applewood = A balding signals yeoman with fat cheeks aboard I.F.S. Truculent. Aram of Nahshon = something about the cut of this lieutenant's uniform that said unusual. Especially his shiny, new Helmsman's insignia that fairly shouted THE HELMSMAN SERIES Dictionary of Terms Page # 1 of 14 11/1/2003 Copyright Timberwolf Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved http://www.timberwolfpress.com/

of recent graduation from the Academy near Avalon. He had a wide forehead and narrow chin with a sharply chiseled nose. His huge eyes were those of a born hunter, and they sparkled with intelligence and compassion, as well as humor. Archestral = a League measurement of time equal to four Avalonian cycles. Asterious = Triad of Asterious (the Golden Triad): a "triple-bodied star around which circle five planets that form greater Avalon, capital of Will Brim's Empire. These are: Proteus (Science Colonies), Melia (Commerce Hub), Ariel (Galactic Communications Center), Helios (Shipping Hub), and Avalon (proper, Great City Capital of the Empire). Atalanta =, A sprawling Fleet base on the watery planet Haelic, orbiting the great star Hador (Hador-Haelic) Atalantans = Natives of Atalanta Autohelm = Automatic Helmsman, an offshoot of the starship operating system often referred to as “The Chairman.” Avalon, see Asterious. Avalonian = "Of Avalon"

--B Barbousse = Utrillo Barbousse, a Starman aboard I.F.S. Truculent. Beardmore = A sector of Avalon City Bearings in Space: Bearings are based on a 400 degree circle with the zero degree mark at the nose of the starship, also known as "Red," Other "color" points are Orange (approx. 66.6 degrees), Yellow (approx. 133.2 degrees), Green (approx. 199,8 degrees), Blue (approx. 266.4 degrees) and Purple (330 degrees). Bearings are expressed in relation to the ship and generally followed by the words "apex" or "nadir" to indicate "high" or "low" in relation to orientation with the ship's internal gravity system. A starship approaching from 330 degrees "high" would be on a relative bearing of "blue apex." A starship approaching "low" from 390 degrees would be on a relative bearing of "red red purple nadir." Benwell = A battleship of the Imperial Fleet. Beorn, see Wyrood. Bestienne, see Eleandor-Bestienne BKAEW - KA'PPA-based long-distance ranging device blast pike (Imperial) Trenning NT-53As = heavy "rifle." blast pikes (Sodeskayan) = Khalodni N-37's Blaster (Leaguer) = Zspandu.50 Blim, see Hilaago. Blue Cape = Imperial Fleet star sailor. Brim = Wilf Ansor Brim, Sublieutenant, I.F. Bollard = A metal post for mooring ships or (optical) mooring device for anchoring tractor/repeller beams from a floating starship. Borodov = Anastas Alexi Borodov, Lieutenant, I.F., an observed from Sodeskaya. Borodov is actually Grand Duke (Doctor) Borodov, brother to the Sodeskayan Knez and master of vast baronial estates in the deeply wooded lake country outside holy Gromcow on the G.F.S.S. "Mother" Planet of Sodeskaya itself. on the Sodeskayan planet Zhiv'ot orbiting the star Ostra. Bosporus, see Gallsworthy. Brentanno, Mk-8 = A 75-mmi anti-crawler disruptor BroadcastPac = A recorded data pack. Bright Triad of Ely = A star system approximately 2/3 the distance from Avalon to Carescria.

--C C-97 Ore barges -- what young Brim flew for 3 years (51989-51991) prior to attending the Helmsman's Academy. Calhoun, Baxter Oglethorpe, Lt. Commander, I.F., and Executive Officer of I.F.S Defiant. Campion, Thomas, = a little-known, ancient poet from a long-forgotten star system. Only the playful lyrics survived him and his whole civilization. THE HELMSMAN SERIES Dictionary of Terms Page # 2 of 14 11/1/2003 Copyright Timberwolf Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved http://www.timberwolfpress.com/

C'lenyt, see Units of Measurement. camarge = A kind of spiced cigarette smoked by Leaguers. ca'omba = Fruit of the Ca'omba bush. Capcloth = A Vertrucht expression of extreme disrespect. Carescria = Brim's home territory (collection of planets and asteroid belts). The poorest spot in the Empire. Noted for space mining. Carescrian = Someone from Carescria. Castoldi = League starship manufacturer, builder of the Castoldi T-20 Destroyer. Cloud = Common sobriquet for the League of Dark Stars. Cloud League = Common sobriquet for the League of Dark Stars. celecoid quartz kernels = Seeds from which Drive Crystals are "grown." CL-921 – Hull designator for I.F.S. Defiant. Cloverfield = Starship Builder, Cloverfield Yards, on the planet X-Rhodor. Cod'dlinger = a malediction referring to a uniquely Narkossian-91 reference to the excretory organs of a local slops-yard scavenger. Coggl'KANs = Sturdy seven-iral giant warriors live on the dark planet of Coggl'KANs. Cogsworthy = A Starman in the Imperial Fleet. Cohelmsman = an assistant Helmsman, usually seated in the right-hand seat of a starship’s bridge. Collapsium = A substance whose interstices among atomic particles have been collapsed to make a super-tough substance, see Hullmetal, below Collingswood = Regula Collingswood, Commander, I.F. Permanent home at Bemus Hall on Lake Mersin (Avalon) with husband, Erat Plutron. Compensator = A Drive-chamber instrument sometimes calibrated in the League's ROGEN scale COMCONVOY = Convoy Commander (individual convoys) COMFLEETOPS = Imperial Fleet Operations Command COMINTEL = Imperial Fleet Intelligence Command Corfrew = An obscure god worshiped by a primitive civilization. Corfrew was known for his magnificent Goatee. Corgwash = An insolent term for nonsense, usually considered obscene. See also Gorksroar. creel = card game with "resources" and "tomers" Courtland = A Plaza in the city of Avalon. Cvcesse = A hot, sticky liquid with natural stimulants and a pleasant, toasted taste consumed at all hours throughout the Known Universe. Usually served in mugs or cups. CXY98, see Amphitrite.

--D Dahlem, see Tarrott. Darkhurst = The Imperial Army Military Academy. Dates = The Standard Imperial Calendar in use throughout most of the Home Galaxy is based upon the Avalonian local calendar and consists of four-hundredday years, divided into ten months: Unad, Diad, Triad, Tetrad, Pentad, Hexad, Heptad, Octad, Nonad, and Decad, each with 40 days, grouped into four, ten-day weeks. Dates are expressed either as /, as in 131/52013, or <month>, , as in 11 Triad, 52013. Defiant = I.F.S. Defiant Darkhurst = A prestigious Academy on Fortis-Darkhurst. The Hon. Gastudgon Z. Hagbut, Xce, N.B.C, is Darkhurst graduate. Daya-Peraf Transition = As a starship exceeds the speed of light, the starscape appears to wobble and shimmer, then blends to an angry red kaleidoscope ahead until space itself seems to end in a wilderness of shifting, multicolored sparks. Hyperscreens translate this jumble of light photons to HypoLight representations. Desterro, see Edrington. DH.98 (model J) = starships built by Haviland Starship Ltd. in the small city of Hall on the planet Salisbury orbiting the star Hatfield. Slim and elegantly shaped for atmospheric maneuvering, they even looked fast. The broad-shouldered, teardrop shape that made them famous was unbroken except for a slight bulge to accommodate a small flight bridge placed well THE HELMSMAN SERIES Dictionary of Terms Page # 3 of 14 11/1/2003 Copyright Timberwolf Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved http://www.timberwolfpress.com/

forward, just ahead of stubby, wing-like sponsons to port and starboard housing 2100-SU Krasni-Peych Wizard 65/66 Drive units in large, radically streamlined nacelles. Barely 83 irals from stem to stern, the tiny ships were considered delightful to fly under most circumstances, however, with high loading on their twin gravity repulsors, resultant landing speeds and steep approach paths were downright terrifying to some. Normal range is 3,500 light years; top speed is 425 LightSpeed. Dimbulbs = People of low intelligence (perceived or actual). Disruptor = Energy cannon used to destroy targets by disrupting the forces that hold atoms together. DN-291 = Outmoded League cruiser. Dityasburg = A galaxy-famous Sodeskayan university

--E E607 = An early Gantheisser attack ship. A deadly wedge of raw destructive power. Overall, its sharply angular sixty irals described nothing so much as a narrow, single-edged ax head turned on its side with a small control cabin located midway along the length of its upper surface. On either beam, angular outriggers extended forward from the squared-off stem, each virtually filled with a powerful Klaipper-Hiss type—41 antigravity generator. The ship's wide, keen-edged bow was deeply notched on port and starboard extremes to accommodate torpedo-tube doors in the beam ends of the hull. Between these, a squat, dome-shaped turret housed a 6O-mmi rapid-fire disruptor. Aft of the rakish control cabin, a spacious well deck extended to the stem, bounded on port and starboard by the breech ends of the torpedo launch tubes and storage for the single reload carried for each. Offset a few irals from the center of the well deck, a row of twelve repulsion rings ran over the stem from a squat autoloader. These marked the little ship's limited capability to strew star mines in its path. Her flat bottom was clear from bow to stem except for an oversized weapons dome housing a powerful 91-mmi disruptor. Within the crowded hull, a single Drive crystal provided thrust for HyperLight dashes and occasional long-distance cruising. ECW = Electronic Countermeasures Edrington = Avalon's shimmering Desterro Monument with its colossal spiral of sculpted flame commemorates discovery of the Cold Tetrad of Edrington, center of a gravity drift that collected space debris and invaluable historic artifacts from a million years of space travel. Effer'wyck = (1) A huge star system, second only in power to Imperial Avalon, (2) Margot Effer'wyck, Her Serene Majesty, Princess Margot of Eleandor-Bestienne = The starship yard on the planet of Bestienne in which I.F.S. Truculent was constructed. electro-collapsite Elsene Bay = The body of water near the starship stocks at which I.F.S. Defiant was constructed. Emrys = Famed Star Admiral Merlin Emrys was lost in the great battleship Nimue two years prior to Brim's graduation from the Helmsmen's Academy. Englyde, see Zantir. Environmentals = Environmental systems aboard starships. Eorean Station Starwharves - one of fifteen starship construction-andmaintenance complexes on the watery planet of star bases called Haefdon could accurately be described as an untidy sprawl Erioed = Emperor Erioed III who preceded Greyffin IV as Grand Galactic Emperor. EverGEN = A small, portable generator whose power supply is nearly eternal.

--F fangovt = "dimwit" in Leaguer Vertrucht. Felis = The overall filum of cat, as in Felis Rothbartus.. Flynn = Dr. Xerxes O. Flynn, Lt. Commander, I.F., Medical Officer aboard I.F.S. Truculent. Fortis, see Darkhurst. THE HELMSMAN SERIES Dictionary of Terms Page # 4 of 14 11/1/2003 Copyright Timberwolf Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved http://www.timberwolfpress.com/

Fillmore, Adolphus = early Imperial bender expert. FLEETOPS4 = the Imperial Headquarters unit to which Claudia Valemont reported. Flighted = Capable of natural flight, as in, “Flighted A’zurnian.” Fluvannian = A citizen of the Fluvanna star nation. Fort'lier = Fort'lier tube, part of the power supply in a HyperLight Drive system. Also known as a "Multigrid-A." Fragonard = Leading Starman Fragonard. Fritz, Galen, Sublieutenant, I.F., a veteran trooper-turned-Helmsman from the Bax cluster Fronze = Yeoman of Signals Fronze. Fullstop = A starship safety device storing sufficient energy to bring the ship to a dead stop regardless of the velocity traveled when power is lost. By intragalactic accord, required aboard all HyperLight starships.

--G G.F.S.S. - Grand Federation of Sodeskayan States. Galad = Iaith Galad, one of the three greatest battlecruisers ever constructed, and sister ship to Nimue. Gallsworthy = Bosporus P. Gallsworthy, lieutenant, I.F., Chief Helmsman aboard I.F.S. Truculent. Gandom's = Gandom's Ve effect, in which glowing sheets of energy crackle along a starship's deck as she approaches the speed of light. Eventually, these become a fine network of pulsing brilliance spreading jaggedly from the last visible stars as if the whole firmament were about to shatter into the very pebbles of creation. This subsides at velocities above LightSpeed 1.0. Gantheisser = A League armaments company manufacturing, among other items, starships and blast pikes, both noted for their excellence throughout the Galactic civilization. Ganthers = A great industrial dynasty in the League, virtual owners of the huge Gantheisser organization. Gastongay Rabelais T. = Defiant's dockyard representative Gastudgon, See Hagbut. Gemden = A class of League light cruisers constructed by the huge firm of Ganthers/Gantheisser. Gigaclick = One billionth of a click (see measurements, below) Gimmas = The dying Star Gimmas around which the frozen planet Haefdon orbits. GlowOrbs = Fashionable lighting sources giving off soft light. GNoord, L.K.G. = Personal secretary to Greyffin IV Gogen'shoat = Corconian Gogen'shoat, an extremely nimble elephant-like animal found on the planet of Nimmoth/Corcon and capable of speeds approaching 95 c’lenyts per metacycle. Gol'ridge = a poet who wrote the romantic poem “Ristobel.” Gorksroar = An insolent term for nonsense, usually considered obscene. See also corgwash. Gorn-Hoff = League starship manufacturer. Gradgroat-Norchelite = A church founded on Hador-Haelic in the city of Atalanta. Gradgroat-Norchelites = Members of the Gradgroat-Norchelite Church. Gradygroat = A contraction, often uttered in ridicule, for the GradgroatNorchelite Church. Gradygroats = A contraction for members of the Gradgroat-Norchelite Church. Grand Achtite Canal = A canal in Avalon Grandoffler = arcane triple-phisotron Drive units built by the now-defunct firm of Grandoffler, easy recognizable by three focusing rings mounted aft of each Gratzhorse = Horse like creatures whose males exhibit huge genitals. Gratz = A little-known god of the Fifth Nemesis. Grav = A shortening of "Gravity Generator." See also Legionaries. Grenzen (plural of Grenzer), Torond Controller Greyffin - Greyffin IV, Grand Galactic Emperor, Prince of the Reggio Star Cluster, and Rightful Protector of the Heavens Grimsby = Ambros K. Grimsby, Chief Steward, I.F., aboard I.F.S. Truculent. Gromcow = Capital City of Sodeskaya. THE HELMSMAN SERIES Dictionary of Terms Page # 5 of 14 11/1/2003 Copyright Timberwolf Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved http://www.timberwolfpress.com/

GTD = Radio Frequency. Grothor = S.M.S. Grothor, a merchantman of the League.

--H Hab'thall = A most insulting malediction in gutter Vertrucht. Haefdon = The frozen planet on which the colossal Imperial starship base of Gimmas-Haefdon is located. Hador-Haelic = The planet on which the great city/Fleet Base of Atalanta is located. Haelacian's = An inhabitant of the planet Haelic. Hagbut = The Hon. Gastudgon Z. Hagbut, Xce, N.B.C, whom Brim first encountered as a Colonel in the Prosperous campaign. Helmsman = The steersman of a Starship. Handlight = A hand-held light source. Helmsmanship = The art and science of piloting a starship. Hexad = Seventh Standard “Month” in a Standard Year. Hibernal = Wintry Hilaago = A deadly predator on the planet Ju'ggo-3 in the Blim Commonwealth. A charging bull Hilaago was part of I.F.S. Truculent's emblem. Hogge'Poa = foul-smelling substance made of shredded poa leaves smoked by Sodeskayan Bears in Zempa pipes. HS-91 = a Cloud League corvette made up of globes and cylinders co-located along a single tube. HoloCards = Information cards incorporating holographic displays. HoloID = An identification card with a holographic, three-dimensional, 360-degree display Holomodel = A model using holographic display technology. Holoportrait = A portrait using a holographic, three-dimensional, 360-degree display. holoposters = A poster using a holographic, three-dimensional, 360-degree display. Hullmetal = A collapsium used in the construction of HyperLight starships. Huntingdon = Huntingdon Gate, entrance to the Imperial Palace grounds in Avalon Hyperdrive = Crystal-based propulsion system used in starships to accelerate past the speed of light. Hyperflare = a self-propelled flare used when traveling at Hyperspeeds. HyperLight = Velocities greater than the speed of light (LightSpeed). HyperLightSpeed = Velocity greater than the speed of light (LightSpeed). Hyperscreen = A crystal plate controlled by special logic systems that translates the confusing chaos of light photons outside a starship traveling at a velocity greater than light into meaningful vision. Below LightSpeed, Hyperscreens appear to be normal glass plates. Under control of simulator logic, Hyperscreens can turn the flight bridge of a starship into a realistic simulator. Hyperspeed = Velocity greater than the speed of light (LightSpeed). HyperSpace = The little-known environment an object enters when traveling faster than LightSpeed. HyperTorp = Any number of torpedo-like missiles capable of traveling faster than LightSpeed. HypoLight = The environment in which an object exists at velocities below the speed of light. The natural environment for most inhabitants of the Known Universe. Hypospeed = Any velocity less than the speed of light.

--I I.F. = Imperial Fleet. I.F.S. = Imperial Fleet Starship. Iaith Galad = One of the three greatest battlecruisers ever constructed, and sister ship to Nimue. IFF = Starship Identification System (Identification: Friend or Foe) IGC = Imperial Graphics Center (Operated by the Imperial Fleet). THE HELMSMAN SERIES Dictionary of Terms Page # 6 of 14 11/1/2003 Copyright Timberwolf Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved http://www.timberwolfpress.com/

IGL = The acronym for Intragalactic Lines, Ltd., the trans-galactic transportation stock company that owns S.S. Prosperous. ILS = Instrument Landing System Imbal = Vertrucht for "load." InterCOMM = The intracommunication system of a starship. Interurban = Public Transportation vehicle, usually large, for inter-city travel. Iral, see Units of Measurement.

--J Jennings, Ardelle, Sublieutenant, I.F., = a junior Helmsman aboard I.F.S. Defiant fresh from the Imperial Academy Ju'ggo, see Hilaago.

--K Ka'LoomKA = A unique design of signet rings favored by IGL employees. KA'PPA = KA'PPA COM = instantaneous, Universe-wide communication Karlsson = A high-intensity lamp for lighting outdoor areas. Kaptnor = miniature accretion disks that emit a luminous beam of energy. Enough energy exists in that beam to snuff out an entire planet, or cause a major flareup in surface of a star. Karlsson = A powerful lamp used in outdoor settings that require great light. Kassierii, Ogen z', League Marshal known as "The Butcher of Rennigal" for his bloody occupation of that star system early in the war. Keuffer = Imperial manufacturer of Disruptors. Kirsh, see Valentin. Klaa'Shee = A city on the planet of A'zurn. Klaipper = Klaipper-Hiss type-41 antigravity generators. The Gantheisser attack ship designated E607 was powered by two of these. Koch'kiss = A League noncom. Korzol = An ancient deity of the Kanallain Rings (a territory within the League of Dark Stars). Knez = Sodeskayan Emperor. Kristoba, see Maldive. Kupp'gh cleaner = persons (mostly in the league military services) who are employed to clean stained hullmetal with Kupp'gh products. These eventually turn the cleaner's hands and arms a deep blue.

--L Lacerta = Imperial poet, author of "Rime of the Ancients." Latmos = Latmos the Elder, Imperial poet. Lamia = Nondum Lamia, an Imperial poet, author of "Solitude." LaKarn, Rogan = Commander (the Honorable), Baron of The Torond and Lover of Margot Effer'wyck. LaKarn, Honorotha = Elderly Grand Duchess of The Torond Legionnaires (Leaguer Soldier/Sailors) dressed in coarse gray uniforms. See also black-uniformed Grenzen, Torond Controllers. Leoline = Imperial poet who wrote "Silver Lamp." Leopold = Crown Prince Leopold, leader of the Free A'zurnian government-in-exile at Avalon. LifeGlobe = A collapsible globe containing life support and communications for one or more persons (depending on design size) used as a life vessel for disabled starships. LightSpeed = The speed of light, 186,000 c'lenyts per second. Lightward = See Surface Directions, below. Lixor = Lixor is the only habitable planet among 12 satellites orbiting Hagath37 (binary red and green star of eclipsing separation 3.0°) occupying a strategic location in the 91st Province astride three cross-galaxy trade routes (R-99183, C.48-E-7, and 948.RJT) that skirt massive and treacherous THE HELMSMAN SERIES Dictionary of Terms Page # 7 of 14 11/1/2003 Copyright Timberwolf Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved http://www.timberwolfpress.com/

asteroid shoals extending for hundreds of c'lenyts in all directions. Twice the size of Proteus, this planet orbits with an Arias19 type of synchronous rotation that perpetually directs the same hemisphere toward its star. Nearly 100% of the population inhabits this hemisphere, tropical at that portion nearest the light, temperate at the zone of transition ("Lands of Shadows"). The dark hemisphere is little used except for starship landing facilities. Inguer and Vatthan are the largest star ports Locar = A slim rating aboard S.M.S. HS-91. Logics = Logic modules, sometimes referred to as computers. Logish = This word indicates premium meem and causes the following word meem to be capitalized, as in "Logish Meem," but merely "meem" when used without the modifier. logus = logus vine/bush from whose "grapes" meem is made. Lox'Sands = An altitude control ring above Haefdon. Magalla'ana = Capital city of A'zurn.

--M Maas = A Gradgroat orbital gunner Maldive = Kristoba Maldive, Chief, I.F., a Quartermaster aboard I.F.S. Truculent. meem = A popular alcoholic beverage enjoyed by nearly all sentient races of the Known Universe. MEL = Signature of mysterious agent on surface of Atalanta. Melia = See Asterious, above. Memosquare = Page from a memo pad. Menander-Garand = The Imperial Escort Training School is located on MenanderGarand. Mersin = Lake in Avalon City on Avalon/Avalon. Metacycle, see Time Measurement Units. Microclick = One thousandth of a click. Midships = The central sections of a vessel. Midspace anywhere in space. Milli = One millionth, or .0001. Milston = See Units of measurements, below Milliclick = .001 click. mmi = See Units of measurements (Other), below mods = Contraction for Modifications. mu'occo = Spiced cigarette popular among Imperials. Mocht = A Overmann aboard the starship S.M.S. HS-91. Multigrid = see Fort'lier tube.

--N Naddock = A Placeman aboard the starship S.M.S. HS-91. Nadzur = The word for 'mine' in Vertrucht Narkossian = of the planetary system Narkos-91. Nahshon, Aram of = Lieutenant, I.F., an A’zurnian Helmsman aboard Defiant. Nemba = A non-sentient, rabbet-like animal found on certain Sodeskayan planets. Nergol, See Triannic. Nesterio Nesterio's Rocotzian Cabaret = A Cabaret in the Rocotzian section of the City of Atalanta. Nightward = See Surface Directions, below. Nik = See Ursis. Nikolai See Ursis. Nikolas See Ursis. Nine-Ks = League field pieces, enormous self-propelled disruptor cannon. A great turret squats on each flattened hull, ridiculously small for the apparent weight it bears, and angular glassed-in driving cabins project awkwardly like afterthoughts from the forward port and aft starboard corners. Inboard of these, massive cooling systems are ample proof of the

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prodigious energy required to fire the thick, stubby disruptors that protrude from the turrets. Nimrons = I.F.S. Nimron is class exemplar for the Nimron-class of light cruisers, among which I.F.S. Narcastle is the most recent example. Nimue = One of the Empire's greatest battleships, lost without trace in 51990 with admiral Merlin Emrys aboard. I.F.S. Iaith Galad is a sister ship. NOFORN = Designation of a document as Denied to Foreign Nationals. Nondum, see Lamia. Nosecap = The nose of a Starship.

--O Octahedroid = A three-dimensional object with eight sides Officient, see Ranks. Onrad = Crown Prince, heir to the Imperial Throne at Avalon (Vice Admiral) and cousin to Margot Effer'wyck, later Imperial Emperor Ophet = A camel-like animal inhabiting certain Fluvannian planets. Ophets are prized for their leather. Ornwald = A section of the Home Galaxy as well as a section of Avalon City on Avalon/Avalon. Ostra, a cool dwarf star around which both Sodeskaya and Zhiv'ot orbit. Overmann, see Ranks.

--P Palidan = August Thackary Palidan, first starship commander to circumnavigate the galaxy Petulants = A class 0f Imperial light cruiser. Placeman, see Ranks. Planetfall = The act of landing on a planet. Plutron = Sir Erat Plutron, I.F., Commander of Fourth Battle Squadron." Plutron's home is Bemus Hall on Lake Mersin, where he lives with spouse, Regula Collingswood)" Praefect = see Ranks, below. Presalvage = A polite term for piracy. Proteus = See Asterious, above. Provodnik, Alexi Radosni, Sublieutenant, I.F., a Sodeskayan engineering officer Puvis, see Amherst. Pym = Sophia Pym, Lieutenant, I.F., a Helmsman aboard I.F.S. Truculent.

--Q Quantums – A measurement of photons.

--R RANKS

IMPERIAL ARMY IMPERIAL FLEET LEAGUE MILITARY Gen./Army Fleet Adm. Overmarshall Gen. Adm. Marshall Lt. Gen. Vice Adm. MarshallGaltele'er Maj. Gen. Rear Adm. OverGaltele'er Brig Gen. Commodore Galite'er Col. Captain Provost Lt. Col. Comdr. OverPraefect Maj. Lt. Comdr. Praefect Capt. 1st Lt. Officient Lt. Lt. Overman 2nd Lt. Sub Lt. Placeman Rasnovski, Tina, Sublieutenant, I.F., junior Navigator aboard I.F.S. Defiant. Regula, see Collingswood. ***** **** *** ** *

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RocketDart = A small, rocket-propelled missile. Rhondell falcon—Defiant's hallmark RocketDart = A small (bullet-size), rocket-driven dart. Rocotzian = The Rocotzian section of Atalanta; the name derives from the shape of the wall that defines the section, which traces the uniquely suggestive outlines of a male rocotzio bud Rogan, see LaKarn. RT-9I = League battle crawler equipped with three turrets, a large one to starboard and two on the port side facing fore and aft. Rosfrew = An imaginary location of great discomfort. Rothcats = Sable rothcats, a unique breed of felines imported to Hador-Haelic’s Atalanta during an earlier age to combat plagues of rodents and giant moths that once infested the city. The rothcats did half their job, and to this day consumed most of the giant moths as soon as they hatched. But Felis Rothharris stubbornly ignored rodents of all forms. Rustbucket = An archaic term for a clapped-out starship Rycantean = An ancient school of design specializing in absolute simplicity. Ruggetos = S.M.S. Ruggetos, a Cloud League transport.

--S Sabar Effer'wyck = ascetic mogul of the powerful star nation Effer'wyck and grandfather of Margot Effer'wyck. Sandur = Lt. Commander C. A. Sandur, I.F., normally an employee of IGL Space Lines, he is part of the permanent crew of I.F.S. Prosperous. Sante' Eremite = An ancient Imperial poet. Savoin = A huge gravity fountain near the entrance to Courtland Plaza in Avalon City, Avalon-Avalon Schneidler = Schneidler 98, a long-nosed League Disruptor. Schwanndor = Schwanndor 137-mmi, rapid-firing disruptors Sealants = Organic and non-organic compounds used to seal starship hulls. Seasonals = As Atalantans recon time, an Imperial Standard Year is composed of 14 Seasonals. SGR-1820 = Antiquated Drive crystal systems used on ED-4 Starships. Sheldon = (1) Sheldon's Great Constant, a mathematical constant integral to the famous LightSpeed equations derived by the great Mathematician Travis Sheldon, (2) Sheldon Drive Crystals "grown" from celecoid Quartz Kernels. Slua = An ancient, three-eyed deity of the Gradgroat-Norchelite church. Sodeskaya = Domain of the Bears. A sprawling star kingdom that subsumes half the Home Galaxy. Sodeskayan = Of Sodeskaya. Softpack = Light-duty luggage. Spaceframe = The frame around which most starships are constructed. Spaceways = Established routes through space. Spevil = A virus inoculated into specially prepared soil making it possible to grow the potent narcotic TimeWeed: Spevil virus beds. Spinward = Another term for “Lightward.” Sponsons = Short, wing like protrusions from the hull of a vehicle, usually paired. Squarish = More or less square in shape. Staffer = A person who works in a staff position. Starbase = An operations base for starships. StarBlaze = A huge, famous gemstone owned (and worn on special occasions) by Princess Margot Effer’wyck. StarBlazes Starbase = A port (usually military) for starships. Starfleet = A fleet of Starships. Starflight = The act of navigating among the stars. Starfury = graceful, 66-iral-long killer ships that could top 400 LightSpeed, or 400 Light Years per Standard Metacycle. With a cruising range of 660 light years (1,300 light years in the PR X model) they could tangle with anything the Galaxy could throw at them. They were reduced in size by nearly half from the Mark 1C Starfury “pocket Battle cruisers” that were their immediate ancestors, yet they retained the identical main battery of THE HELMSMAN SERIES Dictionary of Terms Page # 10 of 14 11/1/2003 Copyright Timberwolf Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved http://www.timberwolfpress.com/

twelve 406-mmi disruptor cannon and required a crew of only fifteen. In their intended role as short-range interceptors, they were renowned — and feared — throughout the galaxy. Starlines = Commercial starship transportation organizations. Starliner = A (usually large) commercial starship. Starman = One of the enlisted ranks in the Imperial Fleet below Petty officer. Starmotive = Referring to Starship propulsion systems. Starport = A port (usually civilian) for starships StarSailor = Anyone associated with the actual navigation of Starships. Starscape = A field of stars. Starwharf = A series of wharves for tending starships, usually located on the surface of a planet. Sublieutenant, see Ranks. Stoneweight = See Units of measurement (other), below. Subatomics = Slang for subatomic particles. Surface Directions: Lightward = Facing planetary rotation. Nightward = Opposite direction from planetary rotation. Boreal = Left-hand planetary pole, facing Lightward.. Austral = Right-hand planetary pole, facing Lightward.

--T T-150 = Fast, maneuverable Gorn-Hoff League T-150 destroyers with big rapidfiring 137-mmi disruptors that could crumple a merchant ship's hull by a hit anywhere near the Drive-chamber structures. They were 283 irals long with a diameter of 25 irals and a cruising range of 3,500 light years. One in good repair could make 30 LightSpeed at the price of drastically reduced range. Spaceworthiness was of secondary importance. Tandor-Ra's Tarrott = Capital city of the league on the planet Dahlem orbiting trinary star Uadn'aps Telsa Templars Tensil = A down-covered, pillow-sized lump Midway between the shoulders common to all adult A'zurnians. This protrusion (manifesting itself at puberty) covers an outgrowth of the reflexive nervous system that automatically coordinates the complex motions of feather and flesh necessary for flight. From each side of the tensil, great folded wings arch upward like golden cowls trailing long flight feathers in alabaster cascades that reach all the way to the floor. Ten'stadt Thackary Tharshish Theada's Thragglers, see Thraggling. (pejorative) Thraggling = An Avalonian word, usually considered obscene, sometimes used in the present participle as a meaningless intensive, as in "You're thraggling right about that!" Time Measurement Units: STANDARD MULTIPLE HISTORIC Click = 1.5 x human eye blink Microclick = .001 click Cycle = 50 clicks Metacycle = 50 Cycles NOTE: "Standard" day, week, month, year designations are based on those on the planet Asterious/Avalon. Day = 25 Metacycles Week = 10 Standard days Month = 40 Standard days 4 Standard Weeks Year = 400 Standard Days 40 Standard Weeks 10 Standard Months THE HELMSMAN SERIES Dictionary of Terms Page # 11 of 14 11/1/2003 Copyright Timberwolf Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved http://www.timberwolfpress.com/

Time-of-Day Designation: Time of day throughout the Home galaxy is based upon the Avalonian local day and is fixed by six , four-metacycle "Watches:" Dawn, Morning, Brightness, Evening, Twilight, and Night. These are adjusted to local time, whenever possible; however, where local rotation time is either too short or too long, partial or multiple Standard Days are implemented. Time of day is normally written as: <watch initial>:<metacycle>::, truncated as desired. Example: D:3:45 or B:00:15. Verbally, time of day is expressed by speaking the watch name followed optionally by, "plus " and a one, two, or threemetacycle offset toward the next watch . This may optionally be followed by, "and" with a one to forty-nine cycle offset toward the next watch. Examples: Dawn plus one and twenty-five, Evening and forty, Twilight plus three. In casual speech, the use of "and a half" indicates twenty-five cycles past a metacycle, as in, "Dawn and a half," or "Dawn plus three and a half." One Standard Day anywhere in the galaxy is based on the six-watch Avalonian Day One Standard Week is ten Avalonian Days. TimeWeed = A disastrously addictive narcotic smoked by many Leaguers and their allies. Torond = A wealthy, independent star kingdom ruled by Honorotha LaKarn, Dowager Princess, mother of Baron Rogan LaKarn. The Torond provides more than half of the Empire's Celecoid Quartz Kernels from which Drive Crystals are grown. TRANSpool = Transport Pool. Trax = See Altnag'gin. Trennels = Supports (archaic, timbers) holding an incomplete starship on its building ways. Triad, see Asterious. Triannic = Self-proclaimed "Emperor," Nergol Triannic is the dictator of the League of Dark Stars. Tricornered = Three-cornered. Trilon = A structure consisting of four faces: Three formed by the connected sides of (often equilateral) triangles and a fourth formed by the three triangle bases. Trinary = An entity made up of three elements, often applied to triple stars. Truculents = Crew members of I.F.S. Truculent. Tupfer-Schwandl = Rapid-firing, 37-mmi, League disruptor. Typro = A barren mining planet orbiting the trinary star Uadn'aps in the League of Dark Stars.

--U Uadn'aps, see Tarrott. Umbilicals = Power and chemical connections to moored starships. These must be disconnected before the starship is flown. Units of measurement (other) Mmi = One thousandth of an iral. Thumb = One Tenth the length of a Human Foot (see below). Iral = derived from ancient measurements of an "average" human foot. C'lenyt = 5,500 irals. Stoneweight = 1/2000 of a Millston. Milston = Mass of approximately one Standard Mill Stone (see Imperial Museum, Avalon). Unad See Dates, above. Uncollapse = The act of expanding, as in a collapsium resuming its natural atomic structure. Ursis = Nikolai Yanuarievich Ursis, Lieutenant, I.F., an observed from Sodeskaya. Known by friends as "Nik", Ursis is actually Dean of the

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sprawling Dytasburg Academy near the city of Gromcow on the Sodeskayan planet Zhiv'ot orbiting the star Ostra. Utrillo, see Barbousse.

--V Valemont, Claudia – a civilian Division Manager in the Atalanta Fleet Base, a startlingly beautiful young woman whom the term "something" didn't even begin to describe. She was small and almost the perfect antithesis of Margot Effer'wyck. She wore her dark-brown hair to her waist in gently flowing waves that framed a countenance graced by wide-set brown eyes with long eyelashes, an almost, but not quite, pug nose, generous lips, and a strong chin. She was gorgeous! She also had an ample bust—neither emphasized nor obscured by the snug, fashionably short pelisse she wore that revealed a modest waist, perfect legs, and tiny feet in oldfashioned, high-heeled sandals. She is quite accustomed to having a sizable impact on men. Valentin = Kirsh Valentin, brilliant League Praefect/OverPraefect, commander of S.M.S. Ruggetos and S.M.S. Grothor. Varnhauser 1.88 = An obsolete, but still-capable disruptor. Vcee = Vcee Shop, a shop in which people relax while drinking cvcesse. Verecker = A tree lined boulevard that follows the shore of Lake Mersin in Avalon City, Avalon-Avalon. Vergonian = Hailing from the Imperial province of Vergonia Vertrucht = the language spoken throughout the League and many of its allies. Voot = A legendary bearded individual with magic powers enabling him to appear at any location in the Known Universe before anyone else. Vothoor = A Fluvannian demigod who, according to certain legends, could see anywhere.

--W Wilf, see Brim. Waldo, Angeline = , a Reserve Helmsman from the merchant service who decided she wanted a ship that could fight back Wavetuner – a Reynolds wavetuner muttered in its casing as it cycled frequencies. Starship equipment. Wellington, Dora, Commander, IFS = Defiant’s Weapons Officer and probably the Universe's expert on antique weapons systems WON-der-ful Wyrood, Sir Beorn, First Lord of the Imperial Admiralty. His Admiralty Reform Act opened the Imperial Fleet's officer corps to ordinary citizens and colonials like Wilf Brim.

--X Xchort = Small, gopher-like animals inhabiting a few League planets that hurl themselves off cliffs in herds during certain phases of galactic gravity. Xantos = An archaic Universal script that all Imperial children, even Carescrian youngsters, are required to learn Xaxtdamned = Specially damned. Xerxes, see Flynn.

--Y Yanuar, see Ursis. Yanuarievich = see Ursis.

--Z THE HELMSMAN SERIES Dictionary of Terms Page # 13 of 14 11/1/2003 Copyright Timberwolf Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved http://www.timberwolfpress.com/

Zagrail = A class of Leaguer destroyer. Zantir = Englyde Zantir, Commander, I.F., dashing hero of a thousand hard-won space battles against the League. Zebulon = A star around which the gas giant Mu orbits. Zechley = A fleet base on Lake Mersin on Avalon-Avalon. Zempa = Zempa Pipe, a pipe used by most Sodeskayans to smoke hogge'poa. Zhiv'ot = A Sodeskayan planet Zimmermann = A Placeman aboard League starship HS-91. Zodekk = A Placeman aboard League starship HS-91. Zoltnark = Legendary Dark Lord of the Universe. Zotreb = Officient Zotreb, a crew member aboard League starship HS-91 and the first man Wilf Brim killed in the war. Zukeed = A reference to someone of illegitimate birth.

Zuzzuous = Local spacecraft peculiar to the planetary system around Hador: Brightly painted little vessels with broad bands of lavender, red, and bright yellow around their narrow, angular hulls. Passenger cabins are pierced by rows of arched windows, and their control bridges—traditionally white with green stripes—are perched high over the stem like miniature Nimidan Hallo Houses. The unique ships can not exceed LightSpeed, and are most normally employed as interplanetary ferries.

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